Fuzhou (abbreviated as “榕”), the capital and transportation hub of Fujian Province, is a coastal city in the southeastern China. It faces China’s Taiwan Island across the East China Sea.
Fuzhou remains largely undiscovered and seriously underrated by Western travelers, but those taking a tour here are in for a real treat. With a long history of over 2,000 years, Fuzhou is a national historical and cultural city. It was once the gateway of Ancient Maritime Silk Road and one of the firstly opened coastal cities in China. Historical sites, ancient dwellings, mottled alleys and centuries-old temples are scattered everywhere in the city. Besides, thanks to its unbeatable location of settling along the coastline of China, Fuzhou also welcomes the worldwide visitors with its delicious seafood and stunning islands and beaches.
Fuzhou is not only a city for natural sceneries, but also for profound culture, history and delicious snacks. Highlights of Fuzhou include Sanfang Qixiang, Yongquan Temple, White Tower, Black Tower, Pingtan Island, etc.
With a reputation of “The Historical Source and Cultural Root of Fuzhou”, Sanfang Qixiang (三坊七巷), or called Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, is the most famous historical block of Fuzhou. It is composed of three lanes and seven lanes, hence the name. Traditional fish-bone architectural style is well-kept on over 270 ancient dwellings there, allowing the visitors to have a glimpse of the past. It is also a paradise for snacks, handicrafts and nightlife.
The Ancestral Hall and Museum of Lin Zexu (林则徐公馆) is located close to Sanfang Qixiang. It was built in memory of Lin Zexu, a national hero in China who famously suppressed the importation of opium and sparked the First Opium War. This ancestral hall and museum will introduce you the entire life of him, with his hand-written poems, couplets, scrolls, political engraving board and other relics exhibited.
“Yong” means “pouring out” and “quan” means “spring” in Chinese. Yongquan Temple (涌泉寺) gets its name because there is a spring pouring out in front of it. Being “One of The Most Sacred Temples in Fujian”, Yongquan Temple is usually a must-visit. The temple is located at the western side of the large Gushan (Drum Mountain) Scenic Area. Visitors heading to Yongquna Temple will also enjoy hiking or biking in Gushan Scenic Area.
West Lake Park (西湖公园), the best-preserved classical garden in Fujian and the Pearl of Fujian Garden, has a long history of over 1,700 years. It was once the imperial garden of the Ancient Fujian of this region. And now it is served as the free relaxing and exercising place of locals and visitors. In spite of being located in the busy city center, West Lake has a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, with beautiful lakes, gardens, bridges and so on offered.
White Tower (白塔) was built by Wang Shenzhi, the King of old Ancient Fujian of this region, to repay the kindness of his father and brother. The tower is named White tower because its outside appearance is coated with white ash layer. The seven-layer Black Tower (乌塔), or called Wu Tower, faces the southeast side of White Tower in a distance. The tower is in black color after weathering, hence the name. The two towers are two landmarks of Fuzhou.
Hualin Temple (华林寺), or called Jixiang Temple at the beginning, is a sacred temple for everyone who believes in Buddhism. It was first built in 964. And till now, it has a history of over 1,000 years. The main hall of Hualin Temple is the oldest wooden structure south of Yangtze River in China. The hall has 18 wooden pillars without using a nail. Its unique design has a great influence on the architectural style of Kamakura period (12th Century) in Japan.
Jinshan Temple (金山寺) is a tiny temple built on a small island surrounded by water. Because of the limited terraces, Jinshan Temple has no lofty pavilions or giant statues of Buddha. But it is its tiny size and unique location make it stands out from so many temples of this region. Insider the temple there are well-decorated wooden-caved windows, poetic couplet, etc. Visitors can admire the temple at the river bank or take a small boat to get close to it.
Fudao Skywalk (福道) is a long sightseeing and fitness corridor built in Fuzhou downtown. With a length of 19 kilometers in total, the skywalk connects five major parks in Fuzhou together, including Zuohai Park, Meifeng Mountain Park, Guoguang Park, Jinniu Mountain Park and Jinniu Mountain Sports Park. Its unique steel frame design has earned it several awards, including the 2017 International Architecture Award and the 2018 Singapore President's Design Award.
Fujian Province Museum (福建省博物馆) is settled between the picturesque West Lake and Zuohai Lake in Fuzhou downtown. The museum displays 200,000 cultural relics and natural specimens, including 6,030 precious cultural relics. It gives visitors the complicate history and cultural background of the whole Fujian Province, which may be a must-visit for history lovers.
Pingtan Island (平潭岛), or called Haitan Isalnd, is the largest island in Fuzhou and the place with the closest distance between Mainland China and Taiwan. There are quality beaches spreading over 100 kilometers of its coastline. It also offers somewhat the best Marine Erosion Landform in China, with erosion cliffs, caves and terraces everywhere. Those unique stone villages are also big highlights.
Songkou Ancient Town (嵩口古镇) is the only old town in Fuzhou that has been listed as a Famous Chinese Historical and Cultural Town. The town has a long history of over 1,000 years, and it has over 60 well-preserved ancient dwellings built in the period of Ming and Qing Dynasty (1369-1912). There is also a three-story Folk Museum with many interesting folk artificial exhibits displayed, like agricultural tools, etc.
Honglicuo (宏琳厝) is the largest and best-preserved individual building in China. It is the ancestral home of Huang Family, with a history of over 200 years. This large and exquisite building is composed of as many as 35 halls, 666 houses, 30 patios, 4 wells, etc. Besides the splendid design and delicate decorations, it is a perfect place to taste the unity and solidarity of Chinese families.
Amazing things to do in Fuzhou are a lot. Leisure walking through the lanes and alleys of Sanfang Qixing, of course, is a must. In addition, there are many sacred temples and ancient towns, like Yongquan Temple, Hualin Temple, Jinshan Temple, etc. You can also enjoy hiking and biking, savor delicious snacks, visit the museums and go to the beaches and gardens in Fuzhou!
Well-preserved ancient dwellings are the best ways to know the history and culture of a region. And in Fuzhou, you can easily find many great dwellings. The most popular area is Sanfang Qixing in the city center. Cangshan District is also good. If your time allows, you can also visit Honglicuo and Songkou Ancient Town in the suburb areas.
Fuzhou has many of the most sacred temples of this region. Planning to visit only one temple in Fuzhou, and then look no further than Yongquan Temple settled at the hillside of Gushan (Drum Mountain). Get close to the tiny “floating temple” - Jinshan Temple is also a good idea. Xichan Temple and Hualin Temple are also recommended if you have time.
A local garden is a great place to get close to the local life. Fuzhou is rich in gardens, while West Lake in its city center is the most popular one. Locals enjoy leisure walking, physical training and happy chatting at the lake banks there almost every day. Besides, Fuzhou has Fuzhou National Forest Park, Jinjishan Park, Minjiang Park, etc.
The unique Fudao Skywalk in Fuzhou offers unique hiking experience, with beautiful gardens and grand panorama view of the entire city prepared on the way. The Gushan Scenic Area and Pingtan Island also provide various hiking and biking opportunities. While hiking, visitors will be rewarded with sacred temples, stone carvings and so on.
Fuzhou is one of the cradles of Min Cuisine with sticky sweet, sour and salty flavor. From Rice Piece with Seafood Soup, Fish Ball, Oyster Cake to Spring Roll, there are different kinds of tasty snacks to satisfy your appetite! And the Nanhou Street at Sanfang Qixiang (Three Lanes and Seven Alleys) is the hot chosen place to explore the delicious snacks.
The city Fuzhou has a lot to tell. And the best place to explore its ancient stories and history must be its museums. There are different kinds of museums in Fuzhou, including Fujian Provincial Museum, Fuzhou Museum, Ship Administration Museum, Hot Springs Museum, Fuzhou Panda Museum, Fuzhou Folk Custom Museum, etc.
The coastal city Fuzhou is also rich in beaches. In Fuzhou downtown, you can head to Fuzhou Beach Park to create fun. And in Pingtan Island of Fuzhou, you can find wonderful beaches measuring as long as over 100 kilometers. If you r dreaming vacation is full of beach and sunshine, and then Pingtan Island should be listed on your travel plan.
Fuzhou enjoys a subtropical monsoon maritime climate. It is neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter. The city has a pleasant weather all year around, with an average temperature for about 20℃ throughout the year.
With modest climate and temperature, Fuzhou is suitable to be visited all year around, particularly in spring, autumn and winter. Summer is also good. However, sometimes there may be geothermal thunderstorms, tropical storms and typhoons during this period of time.
Spring from March to May in Fuzhou is featured with high humidity and plenty of rain. However, the weather is never too bad to stop you from getting out for sightseeing and doing ac. And the rains welcome the fragrant spring scenery. The city is decorated with pink peach blossoms, red plum blossoms, white magnolia flowers and so on! The temperature of this season usually gradually climbs up from 12℃ to 25℃.
Summer from June to August is the hottest season in Fuzhou, with a highest temperature reaching up to 38℃ sometimes. Though the weather is hot, the days with temperatures above 37℃ are rare. Every year, about two times of typhoon will land in Fuzhou during summer. Expect for the extremely hot days and typhoon days, the rest summer in Fuzhou is pleasant. The so many mountains with lush forests welcome the visitors.
Autumn from September to November is the most comfortable season in Fuzhou, with clear clouds and abundant sunshine. The summer heat gradually disappears during this period of time, and the temperature drops to pleasant 18℃ around. No matter you prefer hiking, temple and old town exploration, or strolling, autumn in Fuzhou is just the right time. Autumn is also the peak season of travelling Fuzhou.
Winter from December to February in Fuzhou is the period of time with least precipitation. Therefore, it is considered as the driest season. Snow is rare seen in Fuzhou, especially in the city center. The average temperature of winter in Fuzhou is about 10℃, which is still pleasant. However, the cloudy days with chilly wind are relatively cold. Sweaters, long pants, scarf and a heavy coat are recommended then.
Being the capital of Fujian Province, Fuzhou is the transportation hub of this region. It has an efficient transportation system with easy transport links to or from it.
Fuzhou has one frequently used airport. It is an international airport namely Changle International Airport (IATA: FOC). The airport operates about 117 flight routes, connecting international cities and regions like Singapore, New York, Tokyo, Bangkok and Paris and domestic cities like Beijing (3 hrs.), Shanghai (2 hrs.), Xian (2.5 hrs.), Guangzhou (1.5 hrs.), Xiamen (45 minutes), Shenzhen (1.5 hrs.), Guilin (1.5 hrs.), Chengdu (3 hrs.), Kunming (2.5 hrs.), Harbin (4 hrs.), etc.
Fuzhou has two mainly used railway stations, namely Fuzhou Railway Station and Fuzhou South Railway Station. The two stations all provide high speed train service. However, high speed trains to/from Beijing (8~11 hrs.), Xian (9.5~10 hrs.), Wuyishan (1~1.5 hrs.), Huangshan (2.5 hrs.), Guilin (8 hrs.) and Changsha (4.5~5.5 hrs.) only depart from or arrive at Fuzhou Railway Station. And other connecting cities to/from both the two stations include Xiamen (1.5~4.5 hrs.), Shanghai (4~7 hrs.), Shenzhen (5~5.5 hrs.), Guangzhou (6 hrs.), Xiapu (1~2 hrs.), etc.
Fuzhou Railway Station
Address: No.502, Hualin Road, Jin'an District, Fuzhou, Fujian, China (福建省福州市晋安区华林路502号，福州站)
Fuzhou South Railway Station
Address: No.1, Zhanqian Road, Luxei Village, Chengcheng Town, Cangshan District, Fuzhou, Fujian, China (福州市仓山区城门镇胪雷村站前路1号，福州南站)
Long distance bus stations in Fuzhou, like Fuzhou Bus Station (福州汽车站) and Fuzhou North Bus Station (福州汽车北站), also operate buses to the nearby cities and counties like Wuyishan (4 hrs.), Xiamen (from 3.5 hrs.), Xiapu (from 3.5 hrs.), etc. However, considering there are abundant flight and high speed trains available, those long distance buses are seldom chosen.
Fuzhou now has 2 metro lines in operation and other 5 metro lines under construction. The metro lines opened to the public are Line 1 and Line 2 with stops next to Fujian Railway Station, Fujian South Railway Station, Drum Mountain, Sanfang Qixiang, etc. Taxi in Fuzhou is affordable and frequent. Fuzhou also has a convenient city bus network, with buses running to almost every corner of the city. However, seldom victors chose them because it wastes a lot of time on the road.
Though it is an easy thing to go around this modern city with well-established transport network, you are still suggested to travel around Fuzhou by private car with guide service included. Fuzhou has many history and stories to tell, which are hard to know yourself. And with the help of private car, you can travel to anywhere at any time you like. The price is affordable and the tour can be customized according to your interest, budget and plan. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us!
Fuzhou Train
Fuzhou Coach
How to Travel around Fuzhou
Fuzhou Private Car (with Guide Service included)
In such a modern capital city of Fuzhou, hotel options are a lot. From luxury super 5-star to budget inns and hostels, there is a hotel for everyone. All the hotels meet the basic needs like shower and air-conditioning, with great amount of 4-star and 5-star hotels offering more luxury facilities. And the price is affordable. It usually costs less than CNY 200 for a 2-star hotel. The hotel price during the peak seasons like the first week of May and October and during Chinese New Year (usually comes in late January or early February) is much higher. So you are suggested to book your hotel at least 3 days in advance if you are planning to visit Fuzhou during these periods of time. One week in advance is also recommended if your itinerary is fully confirmed.
For a Fuzhou tour, most of the visitors prefer to stay at a hotel close to Sanfang Qixiang (Three Lanes and Seven Alleys). And some also choose to stay not far from West Lake (西湖) or Taihe Square (泰禾广场). Hotels near Sanfang Qixiang are the best choices, because you can find the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys and colorful nightlife steps away.
To help you know better about Fuzhou City, we provide some useful Fuzhou Maps here, including Fuzhou China Map, Fuzhou Fujian Map, Fuzhou Tourist Map, etc. All are downloadable and printable!
Fuzhou China Map
Fuzhou Fujian Map
Fuzhou Tourist Map
Apart from Fuzhou, there are many other wonderful destinations in Fujian Province for your discovery of the nature, culture, history, food... of this large coastal province in southeast China!
China is such a diverse country with countless of wonders to explore! Xiamen and its nearby region only will show you the beauty of the south of this country. However, in its north, there are still a lot to visit, including the world-famous Great Wall in Beijing, Terra-Cotta Warriors in Xian, pandas in Chengdu, and so on! Why not add more surprises into your China tour? Check all destinations in China.
Chinese Name: 福州
Chinese Pinyin: fú zhōu
Population: 7.8 million
Language: Mandarin & Southern Fujian Dialect
Tel Code: 0591
Zip Code: 350000
Time Zone: (UTC+8)
Visitors usually spend about 1~3 days in Fuzhou.
A one-day classic Fuzhou tour includes the visits to the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys and the most sacred temple of this region - Yongquan Temple. Add West Lake Park into your trip if your time allows.
For the history and culture lovers, they spend one day more in the city to explore more historical blocks, museums and memorial hall in Fuzhou, like Shanghang Historic District, Museum of Chinese Ship Administration Culture, Ma Jiang Sea Battle Memorial Hall, etc.
Looking for beach and island vacations in this coastal city? A one-day tour to Pingtan Island or nearby Meizhou Island is also popular. These two islands both offer wonderful coastal and beach view. Meizhou Island shows visitors more about Mazu Culture, while Pingtan Island is closer to Fuzhou Downtown. Choose the one you prefer.
In fact, lots of visitors like to visit Fuzhou with other destinations in Fujian to catch more wonders in this fantastic region. You can spend 1 day in Xiamen exploring picturesque Gulangyu Island or 1~2 days more to Fujian Tulou admiring the gigantic and marvelous earthen buildings and exploring the legendary Hakka culture? Wuyi Mountain, a sacred Natural and Cultural Site, is also in Fujian. About 2~3 days are recommended for a Wuyishan tour. Photography enthusiasts? You may interest in the mysterious Xiapu Mudflat, which is only one hour away from Fuzhou by high speed train. A 2-day Xiapu tour will leave you more lifelong memories for your trip! For an in-depth Fujian tour to all the above highlights, it usually takes 8 days around.
Furthermore, you can arrange Fuzhou tour with other popular China destinations, like Huangshan, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, etc. All our tours are customizable! And we China Discovery are experienced in customizing China tour based on your interests, special needs, and budget! If you have any idea about your trip planning, please feel free to contact us to help plan you Fuzhou Tour or Fuzhou China Tour!
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